The Effects of Theta Burst Stimulation on the Brain Response to Drug and Alcohol Cues

Completed · Early Phase 1 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Alcoholism, Cocaine Addiction, Drug Addiction

In brief

High relapse rates among substance dependent individuals are likely due to a combination of factors that involve limbic circuits in the brain involved in craving, including vulnerability to salient cues. Emerging data suggests that non-invasive, targeted brain stimulation may be able to modulate activity in these circuits and decrease craving. The primary goal of this pilot study is to determine the extent to which a single session of continuous theta burst stimulation to the medial prefrontal cortex can attenuate limbic circuitry involved in craving among cocaine users and alcohol users. This will be tested through a double-blind,sham-controlled brain stimulation and brain imaging study in a cohort of polysubstance abusers and alcohol users.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02939352

Run by

Medical University of South Carolina

People needed

49

Starts

2014-09-01

Expected to finish

2015-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2018-07-23

Who can join

Age: 25 and older, up to 55. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Age 25-55
• Non-treatment seeking cocaine users (with or without comorbid alcohol use disorder)
• Current alcohol use greater than 20 standard drinks per week
• Current DSM-V Alcohol Use Disorder diagnosis, including the loss of control item
• Currently not engaged in, and do not want treatment for, alcohol related problems
• Able to read and understand questionnaires and informed consent
• Lives within 50 miles of the study site
• Exclusion Criteria [These are listed in greater detail in the CIA Core]:
• Any current DSM-V Axis I diagnosis except Alcohol, Cocaine, or Nicotine Use Disorder
• Current or past substance dependence criteria other than cocaine, marijuana, or alcohol, smoking >1 pack of cigarettes per day
• Current use of any psychoactive substance except cocaine, nicotine, and marijuana or medications as evidenced by self-report or urine drug screen
• Current breath alcohol concentration >0.002
• Positive urine drug screen for stimulants (including cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, etc.) at the Scanning/Stimulation visits and signs of alcohol withdrawal. Based on the sensitivity of this test, this will require that the participants abstain from cocaine use for 48 hours prior to the intervention
• History of seizures or migraine headaches
• History of head trauma or epilepsy
• Violation of other magnetic resonance imaging safety measures
• Current suicidal or homicidal ideation
• Presence of ferrous metal in the body, as evidenced by metal screening and self-report
• Severe claustrophobia or extreme obesity that preclude placement in the MRI scanner
• For female participants, pregnancy, as evidenced by a urine pregnancy test administered on the day of the scanning session

Where it is running

• Medical University of South Carolina — Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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